Greetings,
First time posting, but I have been reading many threads for several months. Much of what I am about to write will not be "new" to many members or those who have worn aids for a fair amount of time. Very long post ahead.
I suppose I just wanted to detail my entire first experience for others who may be undecided upon aid purchase and who frequent forums looking (albeit in my case "hiding") for some information to guide their decision. I always research things to death. Especially "tech" type purchases.
I was born with Sensorineural hearing loss. It gradually got worse through my teens (now 48). Looking back through my records, an aid approach was first mentioned when I was 17 or so. Due to my personality and (worrying about what people would say), I never would entertain the idea of an aid. I also needed glasses from 7 years old and had them…but never wore them in public until I was 18. Got contacts at 22 and solved THAT “problem”. Another reason I feared getting an aid - My head has been shaved since my early twenties.
It took me decades to finally approach the matter. Granted technology has advanced considerably and allowed for many discrete choices. But the main deciding factor was this; My son is a talented Theatre actor. He will be entering his Junior year of college in the Fall. I was finally sick and tired of myself being so foolish and worrying about what other people would think of me. I was NOT going to miss any more of his (and the other fine actors) dialogue.
I started reading threads here and found many dealing with the “worry” I had. Thank you to all who wrote about their experience and advice. I also gathered some facts to help me with my purchase.
I began my purchase at an online site that details all the models offered. You then place a call and they find a certified audiologist in your area. All tests/appointments are covered in the price listed. The service has been impeccable. I financed through Care Credit with no interest for a year. They also supply a years worth of batteries.
After completing the initial evaluation, my doctor recommended Siemens Pure 701/ $1995.00 per aid. He said he based his decision on their technology and what they could do to help my condition. It was determined that at this point in my life, I have lost 60 -70 percent of my hearing. Both the person that administered the test and the doctor could not believe I had been able to “get by” this long. Of course it was me being “stupid” for that long.
Further, he of course wanted me to have two aids. I instantly balked at that during the first visit. It had taken me over 40 years to get the courage/sense up and now he wanted me to wear two??!! Couldn't do it. So I signed the waiver to refuse the second one. He said he would not be able to get me to where he wanted, but would of course work with getting one aid to do its best.
Both my ears are almost identical in their loss. We went with the right ear. My wife was there for the first fitting. About a minute after I had it on he asked "how does that sound?" He also had my wife speak to me. They were both only a couple of feet away. I think my brain did not know what to do at that point and i was hearing more with my left ear still. So I asked for a little more volume. that worked. He took my wife out into the hall about 20 feet away and told her to ask me what I wanted to do for dinner in a normal speaking voice. I could hear her voice the first time but not all the words. He had her raise her voice slightly and I heard every word. Cool.
I have been getting about 12 days on each battery. I wear the aid from 6:30 AM until 10:30 PM weekdays and from when I get up to bed time on weekends. You NEED to give your brain time to adjust to/learn all these new sounds. The first few days were awesome. I won't detail every little thing I heard but in general...nature sounded lovely again. Birds, animals, wind, rain, the full spectrum of thunder...etc. Some harsh things were running water, paper, plastic...anything fairly high in tone. I was also getting feedback whenever I was within a foot or so of another object. Restaurants/bars were very "tiring". Way too many sounds at once.
They re-ran the feedback program and all was cured. I have to put my hand basically right on top to cause feedback. Interestingly, I can still wear my headphones with TV with the aid on with no feedback. I prefer the headphones as the sound is far superior since the TV speakers on the LCD are crap. So not really the fault of the aid. We left the input volume of the aid at the same level. They explained to me that a lot of the harshness and tinny sounds was my brain trying to make sense of all these "new' high pitched sounds. Sure enough, by the next two week visit I hardly "noticed" those high sounds. The aid has the capability for 5 or 6 programs. However my doctor feels I should "learn" to hear again with just this one level for a while. I tend to agree.
I am now about a month and a half in. I just basically "hear" now without concentrating so much on what I am hearing. All the pitches sound normal now. Music is unbelievable, especially Jazz and Classical. I have been a drummer since I was 10 years old (And yes, always protected my ears. The loss is completely a physical degeneration). Last weekend we went to see a band and I decided to try leaving it in as we were seated to the right of the stage and the speakers were angled in towards the dance floor. I was able to leave it in all night without discomfort. I also sat in with the band and played. No monitor at the drums (as the drummer wears in-ears) and the PA was in front of me. Playing was incredible. I haven't felt those drums like that since my early teens.
So, for those considering a purchase...Please find a professional and move forward with it. There is absolutely no reason to wait like I did. You are NOT going to regain hearing to the point of a newborn with perfect ears. You will however gain improvement. While I don't think I have heard anything that I have NEVER heard, I certainly have been missing a great amount of hearing and just foolishly accepted the fact.
In another month or so I will be purchasing the second aid. I am now truly looking forward to being able to dial in more directional sound input. Very few people have noticed the aid. Once in a very great while I notice a person's eye's move towards my ear and back. No one has said a thing. But honestly....I have no cares at all to what anyone thinks. I am just happy and proud that I can hear.
